1. Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه) said about,
هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِي
(guidance for the Muttaqin) that it means, “They are the believers who avoid Shirk with Allah and who work in His obedience.”
Ibn ‘Abbas also said that Al-Muttaqin means, “Those who fear Allah’s punishment, which would result if they abandoned the true guidance that they recognize and know. They also hope in Allah’s mercy by believing in what He revealed.”
[Tafsir Ibn Kathir, tafsir of Surah al-Baqarah, verse 2]
2. A man once asked Abu Hurayrah – (رضي الله عنه), “What is al-taqwa?”
He replied, “Have you ever taken a path filled with thorns?”
The man replied, “I have.”
Abu Hurayrah asked him, “What did you do?”
He replied, “When I saw a thorn I would dodge it or pass over it or behind it.”
Abu Hurayrah said, “That is al-taqwa.”
[Al-Baihaqi, Al-Zuhd Al-Kabir p351]
3. The taabi’ee Talq bin Habeeb said: “If an ordeal appears amongst you extinguish it with taqwa.”
When asked what is taqwa, he replied:
“Taqwa is that you act in obedience to Allaah, and hope in His mercy, upon a light from Him; and taqwa is leaving acts of disobedience to Allaah out of fear of Him, upon a light from Him.”
[Related by Ibn Abee Shaybah in Kitaabul-Eemaan (No. 99) and it was declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee]
4. Ibn Rajab, rahimahullaah, said: “The essence of taqwa is to make a shield (which guards) against Allah’s anger and punishment. That shield is to obey His commandments and abstain from His prohibitions”
[Jaami’ul-‘Uloom wal Hikaam: 190/191]
